Muzzle

Brummyrat

Brummyrat

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Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but its the section I always head to first! Hoping that someone can help me, I think I need a muzzle. My 19 yr old Section D is fatter than ever this summer and Im starting to get concerned. He's worked about six times a week, we school or jump as hacking is too risky by us but he works fairly hard and is pretty fit. I can't get down in the day time but he goes out last at the yard, at about 9am, and comes in at midday, which is the only time I can arrange turn out/bring in. Usually less at the weekends. He has a teeny feed, like a handful, and a small net. But, the weight, there are fatter at my yard but I still think he looks unhealthy. I obviously want to avoid getting caught on the laminitis merry-go-round because Ive witnessed it. The only thing I can think of is a muzzle but I haven't a clue what sort. It would have to be field safe and comfy, ie not the nasty plastic ones I've seen about. Has anyone got any recommendations muzzle wise? Failing that he'll just have to stay in which won't go down well at all!
 
Hi,
Shires do a good one for about £15 (this one: http://www.saddleupinternational.co.uk/muzzle.asp - the shires nylon one). My other halfs very good doer has almost all her grazing with this and it seems very comfortable for her and def works to restrict the amount of grass she guzzles! She happily drinks with it, though she did sulk for a couple of days with it and seemed at a bit of a loss as to what to do if she couldn't permanently stuff herself when turned out. We stuck with it and she is fine now. It can rub very slightly the end of her nose and under her jaw (has just taken a little bit of hair off - no heat or soreness) so she has a couple of days a week without it in an ultra fatty paddock.
 
i use a shires on my pony and it was great until he found how to get it off! most horses will figure it out, but some dont mind having it on anyway, but if hes really determined to get it off he might rub it really hard on the ground and might rub his nose doing so, they have padding in but it didnt seem to stop mine rubbing himself sore. but mine runs away now when we come to put it on, so now hes on restricted grazing as he cant come in during the day, i suppose it just depends how your horse feels with a muzzle, but its definately worth a shot.
 
Thats the type I use..... it has stayed on so far..... does that mean my horse is a retard
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I use a greenguard for my 'beefy' NF. I use it with a greenguard headcollar which has the throat lash fitted.

He occasionally gets it off, but I think it more by luck, as 95% of the time it's still where it should be when I visit / ride in the evening.

Muzzles really do work, as this time last year (our first summer) H was the size of a round, brown, house. He is still beefy (like a Highland), but has not gained any significant weight since spring.
 
My boy HATED his muzzle! He had laminitis and was recovering so was vital he had it on (he was kicking his stable door, not great with laminitic feet!). He is very bright (too intelligent for his own good most of the time) but either just didn't get it or was really angry with it. He would dig at the ground to make the grass stand up then ram his nose against the ground, get frustrated that he'd only get a nibble then run his nose across the ground. He ended up with sores all over his muzzle (underneath his chin as mentioned, on top near where noseband goes and by his nostrils!) and his cheeks where he used his hooves and fences to get it off. I tried a sheepskin noseband cover but all the nose ramming and rubbing he was doing was not doing him much good! He also got very hot in it (partly due to getting angry with it) so in the end I gave up with it after finding him lying down in his tiny paddock lethargic and puffing. I know you have to stick with it until they give in but this was at least a month and was more than just a 'huff'.

Although someone I know has a typically very cheeky, naughty little pony and he doesn't mind wearing one at all, he nibbles away all day, practically carrying on as normal, just less intake of grass, just how they're meant to be!

They were both Shires muzzles so it really depends on the horse. There are some slightly cheaper copies of the Shires ones that look really really similar but they're not quite as flexible and the webbing isn't quite as soft. Not worth it for the sake of a few pounds difference. I've personally not heard great things about the greenguards. They're easier to stand or on move to one side and some horses find you can still eat quite a lot with them on, but again it depends on the horse.
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Most people I've spoken to about muzzles say they do 'sulk' for a day or two and you may have to show them that it is possible to drink and eat Try passing a polo or treat through the hole and hold a bucket of water up to their nose.

Good luck
 
I use a Shires but have to put it on with a headcollar, I thread the straps through or she gets it off within a minute. This way seems to be pony-proof and as long as you spend a few minutes making sure it's comfy, should be fine. Mine can remove a Greenguard within a minute as well!
 
The "Best Friend" muzzle is the best. It's much deeper than the Shires so they can't get it off and the fabric is softer so less likely to rub. Slightly more expensive but worth it because D can get a shires one off in about 15sec.
 
best friend muzzle is by far the best, my highland takes a cob size. we tryed the greenguard hated it!! and the shires cheap one we got was far to tight round her muzzle, it too was a cob size!!

i'd go best friend but defo recommend a sheep skin pad on it
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